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Vinoy's shiny addition
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Published: October 15, 2009
ST. PETERSBURG - The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg gave the media a peek at the new chandelier in its historic grand ballroom.
Designed and created by famous glass sculptor Dale Chihuly, the cone-shaped composition weighs 1,250 pounds and glitters with 750 separate glass pieces.
It's the centerpiece in a $1.2 million renovation of the ballroom that is scheduled to be completed today
"It definitely makes a statement in that space," said hotel general manager Russ Bond.
Chihuly has become a regular visitor to the Tampa Bay area since his 2004 exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. On one of those trips, he visited the Vinoy.
"He fell in love with the Vinoy," Bond said, "and we just kept that relationship going. When we were getting ready to do this renovation, we thought of partnering with Chihuly."
The piece was created and then disassembled in Chihuly's studio in Seattle, packed into 52 boxes and transported by carrier to the Vinoy, where it was installed over a period of three days.
"It was an incredibly smooth installation. No surprises," Bond said. "I think it's going to be just another incredible addition to the downtown St. Pete area as we continue to keep the Vinoy relevant to our guests and visitors."
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